BOX SCORE


BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (Nov. 8) - Despite overcoming a 27 point first half deficit, the Saint Vincent College football team saw its comeback attempt fall short, 34-30, against Geneva at Reeves Field. 

The host Golden Tornadoes (3-6, 2-5) built an early lead with help from some early turnovers and penalties by Saint Vincent. After intercepting SVC quarterback Andy Borgen on the first play from scrimmage, Geneva drove 43 yards on eight plays before scoring the game's first points on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Channing to Devin Kelosky. A missed PAT made it 6-0 Golden Tornadoes.

On the Bearcats very next possession, sophomore Shavonta Craft made a catch on third down to move the chains. However, Craft coughed up the ball working for extra yardage and the Bearcats committed their second turnover in as many possessions to start the game. Geneva once again turned it into points, using another short field to drive 38 yards on five plays, eventually capped by a one-yard TD run by Brandon Hacker. The touchdown and PAT made it 13-0 Geneva less than six minutes into the contest.

The score remained that way the rest of the first quarter. Geneva added another touchdown on a third down to start the second quarter. Josh Guiser caught a seven yard touchdown pass from Channing. Another extra point made it 20-0 Geneva. After forcing SVC into a quick three and out, Geneva got the ball back and added a two yard TD run by Anthony Carthen. The point after touchdown made it 27-0 and it appeared the rout was on. 

However, Saint Vincent refused to fold. The Bearcats started their comeback when senior linebacker Nick Revis pounced on an errant snap in the end zone for a defensive touchdown. Senior kicker Morgan Porter added the extra point to cut the Bearcats deficit to 27-7 with 9:16 to play in the half. It appeared the score would stay that way heading into half but Saint Vincent forced Channing into an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone at the 1:27 mark. The second defensive score of the quarter cut the Bearcats margin of deficit to 27-9. 

SVC continued the comeback when Craft bullied his way into the end zone from five yards out, to cap a 13-play, 56 yard drive to start the second half. Porter tacked on the PAT to cut the Geneva lead to 27-16. Just a little over a minute later, Porter nailed a 34-yard field goal to bring the Bearcats back to within a score, at 27-19 with 8:43 to play in the third quarter.

Geneva held the score at 27-19 until early in the fourth quarter, when Porter added a 29-yard field goal to cut the Bearcat deficit to 27-22. After forcing Geneva into a three and out offensively, SVC took its first lead of the game when senior defensive back Darius Brown returned the Geneva punt 64 yards for a Bearcats touchdown. The Brown score and two point pass from DJ Oceant-Kelly to Lazaro Garcia made it 30-27 Bearcats with 12:24 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately for SVC the lead didn't last long, as Josh Guiser returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for the Golden Tornadoes. The touchdown and point after made it 34-30 Geneva with 12:11 to play in regulation.

Saint Vincent had the ball three more times with a chance to regain the lead but senior quarterback Matt Deakins threw interceptions on two of those drives, including one with 44 seconds left in Geneva territory to end the Bearcats hopes of a comeback. 

Despite the combined 64 points, neither team totaled more than 300 yards of total offense. SVC finished with 258 yards compared to just 209 for Geneva. Turnovers were a big part of the story, with SVC committing five and Geneva turning it over four times. Both teams scored a special teams touchdown. In fact, 23 of the Bearcats 30 points came via defense or special teams. The rushing touchdown from Craft was the Bearcats lone offensive score of the contest. 

Deakins and Borgen combined to complete just 12 of 39 passes at the quarterback position. The duo tossed for a combined 156 passing yards and threw three interceptions. Craft put together a respectable day on the ground, totaling 93 yards and a touchdown. The sophomore running back also was the Bearcats leading receiver, totaling seven catches for 49 yards. Porter made two of his three field goal attempts to give him 10 made field goals now on the season.

Defensively, sophomore linebacker Matt McCarthy led the way with a game-high 12 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and a sack. Linebacker Matt Jenkins and defensive back Renny LaRue-Holloman, added nine and eight tackles, respectively. 

Saint Vincent closes out the 2014 season with a trip to Bethany on Saturday, Nov. 15. The annual Green Game contest will be played during the PAC's annual Rivalry Week. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.